Filters, not options: Download Shortcode 1.0

In rewriting one of my plugins recently, I decided to try an experiment I like to call Filters, not options (a play on the oft-repeated WordPress mantra of Decisions, not options).

I think whenever you conceive a plugin, you’re aware that it has an express purpose and is meant to be used in a specific way. That purpose should be your guiding light.

The plugin, in case you’re wondering, is the recently-released 1.0 update of my Download Shortcode plugin, which allows users to output force-download links for files via a shortcode.

Out of the box, the Download Shortcode only supports files that live in the uploads directory. If you don’t have ‘pretty permalinks’ enabled on your site, the full URL including the download-script endpoint are exposed. If you do have ‘pretty permalinks’ enabled, the URLs will be rewritten to mask the endpoint, which is better for security. And none of this requires configuration outside of the normal WordPress site setup. Easy.

OK, so what if I wanna change it up?

Use the filters supplied in the readme. If you’re a developer or adventurous user, the examples should be more than enough of primer to get you started.

Example filters include:

Ability to change the rewrite endpoint

Change the supported directory

Disable rewrites regardless of ‘pretty permalink’ usage

Hiding the shortcodes after the plugin is deactivated or removed

Why do it this way?

Simple, it’s all about the 80/20 rule. 80 percent of this plugin’s users expect it to work in a very specific way. The remaining 20 percent might want to fudge with things a bit to fit their needs and that’s fine, but I’m inclined to cater to the majority.

Inevitably, this begets the discussion of whether filters can serve equally as well as options. I think they can and I’d go even further to say that I don’t think that extra options suit every plugin. Returning for a moment to the 80/20 rule, if 80 percent of your users won’t need the options, adding them is unnecessary overhead. It’s supposed to do a thing and it does it. If you want more out of it, you can use the filters or fork it and modify it however you want. The beauty of open aource.

Is this a perversion of the spirit of using filters in plugins? Is this even a good idea? I’m curious to hear from other plugin authors and welcome the feedback.

3 thoughts on “Filters, not options: Download Shortcode 1.0”

I think you are right that most want to use a plugin as they see it advertised when they find it. The only caveat is that sometimes the 20% that want to mix it up aren’t capable of mixing it up via filters. So really good documentation for how to use the filters is necessary.

Yes, I’d agree as well. I’ve also found that filters and other code techniques make for easier transfer. Simply upload the code and things work whereas with options, on each installation, one needs to log in, go to the option panel, and make the change.